Lawyer wants charges dismissed against mom with dead babies

WORCESTER, Mass. (AP) — A lawyer is seeking to have charges dismissed against a mother who lived in a filthy home where the skeletal remains of three babies were found.

A judge approved Keith Halpern’s request Friday in Worcester Superior Court allowing him to file motions to dismiss the charges against 31-year-old Erika Murray by Oct. 23, the Telegram & Gazette reported Saturday. Halpern is also seeking to suppress some evidence.

Halpern also said he may file a motion seeking funding to hire a forensic anthropologist to assist in Murray’s defense.

The babies’ remains were found in her Blackstone home last September.

The house was infested with rodents and insects, piled high with dirty diapers and contained dead animals. Workers in hazmat suits spent days cleaning out the house, which was later demolished.

Murray pleaded not guilty to murder, assault and battery of a child, reckless endangerment of a child and animal cruelty as well as a charge of concealing fetal death.

Murray’s boyfriend, Ramon “Ray” Rivera, 37, also the father of all seven of her children, has also been indicted on assault and battery on a child causing substantial injury, child endangerment, animal cruelty and marijuana charges.

Halpern declined to comment on the pending motions following the hearing and did not reveal which evidence he wants suppressed. He has said Murray has mental health issues and that there’s no evidence she caused the babies’ deaths.

“The press attention isn’t doing her any benefit,” he told The MetroWest Daily News. “It’s not like I want to say anything to increase the coverage.”